February 1, 2012  As any manager of environmental, health and safety knows, compliance with federal, state and local environmental requirements is a very challenging task.  The statutes and environmental regulations that apply to many business operations are c...

January 18, 2012  Purchasers of property, especially commercial or industrial property need to be aware of potential environmental liability arising out of past uses of property.  A story "Legal Matters Needn't Be a Legal Mess" appears in the January 17, 2012 edition of Finance & Comme...

December 8, 2011 Question from James, Banker from St. Cloud, Minnesota: Our bank is considering a proposal to refinance a commercial property in town. The property is valued at just over $1 million. Our lending policies require that a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I) be completed. Th...

November 28, 2011 In late November, 2011 a Minnesota farmer-owned ethanol operation pled guilty to a federal felony charge of falsifying air quality reports and paid penalties of $760,000 to federal and state environmental authorities. The ethanol operation must pay a $450,000 criminal fine levied ...

November 23, 2011 During the period of July 1st to September 30th 2011 the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) settled 43 enforcement cases. The MPCA, which is charged with enforcing environmental statutes, regulations and permits typically brings enforcement actions after conducting inspecti...

October 25, 2011 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has launched a multi-faceted initiative to protect the public, especially children, from exposure to harmful levels of lead-based paint. The EPA’s new focus on environmental and public health issues arising in homes and apartments sh...

October 18, 2011 The universe of liability assurances available to buyers of commercial and industrial property and their lenders in Minnesota has expanded. Liability protections now cover soil gas releases or vapor conditions. In the past the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Voluntary Inv...

October 6, 2011 One of the bright spots in an otherwise difficult economy has been the domestic petroleum industry, particularly in North Dakota.  Increasing global oil prices have created opportunities to develop domestic resources.  As a result, oil production and all of the related ...

September 29, 2011  Contractors who are renovating, remodeling or repairing pre-1978 residential housing should consider taking steps to maintain compliance with a wide-ranging federal environmental law that requires disclosure of lead based paint hazards to owners and occupants of so-called ...

September 9, 2011 One of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA’s) newest permitting programs is an effort to control and manage stormwater discharges from industrial facilities. Thousands of business and locations across Minnesota are potentially subject to permit coverage. Over the course...

February 1, 2012  As any manager of environmental, health and safety knows, compliance with federal, state and local environmental requirements is a very challenging task.  The statutes and environmental regulations that apply to many business operations are c...

January 18, 2012  Purchasers of property, especially commercial or industrial property need to be aware of potential environmental liability arising out of past uses of property.  A story "Legal Matters Needn't Be a Legal Mess" appears in the January 17, 2012 edition of Finance & Comme...

December 8, 2011 Question from James, Banker from St. Cloud, Minnesota: Our bank is considering a proposal to refinance a commercial property in town. The property is valued at just over $1 million. Our lending policies require that a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I) be completed. Th...